Rains continue to lash northern Orissa

BHUBANESWAR: Rains continued to lash northern Orissa as the deep depression lay centred over neighbouring West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh. The system moved in a west-north-west direction and lay centred about 200 Km north-north-east of Balasore. The weather office said the system is likely to move west-north-westwards and weaken gradually even as the south-west monsoon covered the whole State on Friday.  Under the impact of the system, most of the northern districts like Balasore and Mayurbhanj received showers although its intensity was felt elsewhere. Baripada recorded 5 cm rain while Balasore received about 3 cm rain. Similarly, Chandbali recorded about 3 cm rain on the day even as rainfall declined over other places.  The Met office, however, forecast rain and thunder showers at most places over Orissa during the next 24 hours. Heavy to very heavy falls along with extremely heavy showers are expected at one or two places over north Orissa. Similarly, heavy showers were predicted over South Orissa during the next 48 hours. Local cautionary signal number 3 was hoisted at all ports in Orissa and strong and squally wind is likely from south-westerly direction with speed reaching 45 km to 55 km per hour. Sometimes, the speed will reach 65 km per hour. Sea condition will be rough to very rough and fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea. The IMD also announced that south-west monsoon covered the whole State on Friday with the Northern Limit of Monsoon (NLM) passing through Porbandar, Veraval, Dahanu, Nashik, Adilabad, Pendra, Varanasi and Gorakhpur.